not what you'd expect.

December 08, 2011

He's super active and gorgeous and has perfect hands and feet, and was flexing and reaching and kicking.... (ahhhhhhh!)

The doctor was great. I asked that she do some additional scanning herself because I'm sure their techs are wonderful, but she's the expert. She discussed each of my pain points and it seems that there have been big improvements in diagnosing placental issues since last I gave birth.

At this point, there are no signs of arthrogryposis, but we'll scan again in two weeks to keep an eye on continued healthy development. In fact, she volunteered that she had no problem getting me in for a scan if I just needed a sanity check. Somehow, just that peace of mind means flip outs are less likely.

And, as an added bonus, if all goes well this healthy baby boy would be definitive proof that it was not the sex-linked form of fatal arthrogryposis that Thomas had, ergo: the girls are not carriers and neither am I!

Such wonderful news all around. Thank you all for your prayers and unflagging support. Now I'm off to woozle a few blue newborn onesies.
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Jenny F. Scientist astutely pointed out that I may be mistaken about the X-linked recessive inheritance, and what we can extrapolate from a healthy boy. Sadly, she's right (though I know she wishes I were the right one this time).

I re-read and shored up my knowledge, and it's a 50/50 chance for the X-linked recessive to be inherited by either boys or girls. Any boy who did inherit it would be lethally affected; any girl would be a carrier, and not display the traits of the disease. But it's totally possible to have both unaffected girls and boys.

For us, as we likely won't have another child, this simply means that we'll want to continue to monitor any scientific developments around the x-linked recessive, lethal form of arthrogryposis (there are two other non-lethal x-linked forms identified at this point) to see if they ever find the marker and develop a test for carriers.

Further, it would mean that THIS little boy did NOT inherit it. Which is still a big reason to celebrate!

We have our first maternal fetal medicine appointment this afternoon. Everything has been going well - certainly NBHHY - but it's unavoidable that the errant flashback pops up now and then.

So prayers, please, for a nice, healthy baby with everything in its proper location and performing its proper function. This is our first visit to this particular doctor (my specialist in Houston isn't accepting my current insurance, but does accept what I'll have come January). Let's also hope she's competent and thorough... with a soft spot that causes her to give us lots of pictures and video.

I'll be 15 weeks tomorrow. Only Thomas, Hannah, and Caroline made it this far, so our odds are looking better and better.